Electrode mechanism for electric furnaces



BEST AVAILABLE COP Feb. 8,1927. 1,616,797

A. E. GREENE ELECTRODE MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FURNACES Filed March 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A TTORNEY BEST AVAILABLE COP Feb. 8 1927.

A. E. GREENE .ELECTRODE'MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FURNACES Filed March 5, 1-923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY BEST AVNLABLE COP- Feb. 8, 1927. 1,616,797

A. E. GREENE ELECTRODE MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FURNACES Filed March 5, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l i I': l H H I08 96 9 H In Fig.9. I A Hfi fi I09 los/QB K I IN ' INVENTOQ BEST AVAILABLE Feb. 8 1927. 1,616,797

I A. E. GREENE ELECTRODE'MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC FURNACES Filed March 5, 1923 4 SheetsSheet 4 Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALBERT E. GREENE, or MEDINA, WASHINGTON..

My present invention '}'relates to electrode 'cr'anes for electric. furnaces an'dlmore particularly to improvements in the construction of the electrode'holglers In mj'co-pending'application for patent, Serial No.-2 79,,776, filed February 28, 1919, I describe'and claim certain improvements in electrode holders and electrode cranes and my 1 present application-is'a continuation in part of my earlier 3P l fiation above mentioned. I havejfoun Ctliatf electrode cranes for cle'ctriojfurnaces should. be strongly constructedibutconstructed in such manner that the position'ofthe "electrodein horizontal I5 plane can bequickly and easily adjusted as for example when-a new roof'is placed on the fu'rna'cel andcathel electrode hole on the roofv doesnot quitecoincid'e with the position Tof the fholebin the one previously usedi It is also important'tobe able to adj l st-land maintainfthe -relative angle between the horizontal arm of the electrode holder and the mastorTvertiMlTguide-beam of the crane so'that when an.-electrode touches the bottom or the charge in the furnace chamber, it will. not cause movement of the arm which will break the electrodes or electrode joints. My present invention has to do with improvements relating to these features.

One object of my present invention is an electrode holder which can be easily and quickly'adjust-ed. In my previous application, of which this case is a continuation in part, I described an improvement in the electrode holder arms by which the horizontal distance between the electrode and the ver tical guide-beam or mast could be adjusted. My presentiapplication describes an improved meansof adjustment of the length 40 of the electrode arm as more fully described,

hereafter. I

Another object of my present invention is an improved construction of electrode holder arn'rwhercby the horizontal position of the electrode may be readily and easily adjusted and this feature of my present invention has to do with the. pivoted joint at the outer endof the electrode holder arm described more fully hereafter. Another feature ofmy invention relates to the construction of the electrode holder arm and more particularly has to do with the use of channels such as structural steel channcls to form the horizontal part of the'electrode" holder arm and to provide space between them for a spacing member which I niinc'rnonn MECHANISM FDR ELECTRIC FURNACES.

vi amin. filed mien-5, 1923. swarm-623,036

can be-adjusted lengthwise of the channels. Another object of my present invention relates to the construction of the trolley member which engages the mast or vertical guide beams of-the electrode cranes. This feature relates to the-use of upper and lower trolley wheels, the upper wheel or wheels engaging a surface or surfaces of the vertical guide-beam in one plane and the lower trolley wheel engaging a parallel surface but 'opposedito the first mentioned plane.

More particularly this featurehasv to f do with the use of vertical I-beams as the masts for the electrode cranes with an upper roller pressing against the back. of the I- beam and a. lower roller pressing against. the

SltlOIl.

Another objectof my invention relates to -front surface of-Qthe' I-beam whereby the arm is held in substantially horizontal pothe adjustmentof the angle betwee'nthe outwardly extending horizontal ar n'of the electrode holder and the vertical guide-beam or mast along which the electrode holder operates: This feature comprises a support 'ing bar connected at its outer end tothe horizontal arm of the electrode holder and connected at its other end to the trolley member which operates up and down in connection with the mast or vertical guidebeam and this feature provides for adjusting the angle between the horizontal arm and the vertical beam so as to raise or lower the outer end of the horizontal arm of the electrode holder.

Another feature of my invention relates to the use of adjusting rollers which enga opposing surfaces with respect to both t e upper-and lower trolley wheels to adjust the position of the roller axis.towards' or away from'the electrode and so as to prevent the electrode holder arm from changing its angle with the vertical beam as otherwise might happen when the electrode held by the holder touches the solid charge in the furnace and exerts an upward pressure on the outer end of the arm. lVithout the use f these adjusting rollers there is-a tendency to break the joints between electrodes when the electrode is lowered until it touches the charge but with the use of these adjusting rollers I have found that this tendency to break the nipples is largely eliminated.

Another feature of my invention relates to the construction of these adjusting rollers whereby they are mounted on pins but the at the end of the sloping member which tacts and current to the electrode contacts.

other features of my invention will be more REST AVAILABLE COP.

pins are constructed so that the rollers are eccentric of the axis of the pin proper and by turning the pin around; the space or clearance between the roller and the surface. of the vertical guide beam may be adjusted.

Another feature of my invention relates to the'construction of the electrode holder arm whereby rollers whichengage the verzontal arm member and rollers are placed connects to the electrode-holder arm, and the space between the horizontal arm andthe sloping arm which extends downwardly from the horizontal arm may be adjusted by means of bolts connecting the roller ends of these two'arms-or the distance of the roller axis from the electrode may be adjusted.

Another feature of my invention relates to the construction of the electrode holder clamping member which is attached to the end of the electrode holder arm bymeans of the insulated joint and which is constructed in a special wayto facilitate the insertion of the electrode contacts which may be water cooled. r

Another feature ofmy invention relates to the construction of the electrode contacts providing for water cooling of these conproviding also a special means of connecting the conductors which These and fully described hereafter. 7

Another feature of my invention relates to the mounting of the clamping member adjnstably on the. end of a pipe shaped arm and to the insulation between the contact clamping partsand the end of the pipe arm and also means for tightening and loosening the clamping member over the insulation of the pipe arm. 2

I will now describe'these variousjeatures of my invention with reference to the annexed drawings.

In'the drawings I have shown in Fig. 1

a side elevation view of an electrode crane embodying my present invention and showmg an electrode holder with rollers or trolley wheels engaging the surfaces of a vertieal I-beam.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electrode holder and I-heam shown in Fig. 1, the I-beam in section. I

Fig. .3 is a side elevation view ofan electrode holder. the outer end ofwhieh is like the electrode holder inFig. 1 and the I-beani end of which is different from the electrode holder in Fig. 1 in havinga set of trolley wheels placed above the outwardly extending arm instead of below it.

Fig. 4 is an elevation vicwof a modified form of electrode holder, partly in section, showing the insulation between the horizontical beam are placed at; the end of the horibring the w th an adjusting "the angle between in Fig. 4. I

Fig. 7 .is an elevation view of the hinge clamping portion ofthe electrode holder shown in Fig. 5. 3

Fig. 8 is-an end elevation view of'the clamping member of the electrode holder shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the eccentric of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in sectionof the arm end piece of an electrode holder which fits in between the. two channels-of o the electrode the arm, and this section shows the insnlating bushings and the insulating material between the contact clamp and the U-shaped piecewhich latter fits over the arm end and is pivoted about a vertical bolt and supports the contact clamp for holding the electrode.

Fig. 10 is a in Fig. 9 and is a section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 9.

F ig. 11 is a modification of my invention showing an electrode trolley with four wheels engaging the outer surfaces of the vertical beam and showing a pipe arm extending outwardly from the I-beam together bolt which serves to fix the outwardly extending pipe arm and the Vertical beam. This ad: nst'ing bolt is fitted with a-turn-buckle for quick adjustment.

Fig. 12 is an elevation view of the end of an electrode holder arm showing the pipe arm and the clamping member which fits over the pipe arm but which is insulated from it and showing theclamping members mounted thereon.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the parts of the electrode holder shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is-a diagrammatic-view of an electrode holder arm showing the use of. a turnbuckle for adjusting the angle between the outwardly extending arm and the vertical beam.

Fig. 15 shows an elevation view of one type of electrode con'tact 'of my present invention.

Fig. 16 is another view of the same electrode contact shown in Fig.15.

Fig; 17 is an elevation view partly in section of an adjusting roller of an electrode holder for engaging the surfaces of a vertical beam.

Fig. 18 is a plan view oft-he roller shown in Fig. 17.

These and other features of my invention will be more fully describedhereafter.-

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the electrode holder shown in these two figures is de-' plan view of the parts shown llll BEST AVAILABLE The flanges are cut oft at the. ends of the channels where the channels extend by the yertical I-beam. The end of one of the flanges may be seen at 4 in Fig. 1. The

urpose of cutting off this part of the flange is so that the main Web-of the channel may be in close proximity to the rollers represented by the dotted-lines 5 and 6 in Fig. 1 and shown also at 5 and 6 in Fig. 2. At the outer end of the electrode arm channels is an end piece 7 held in place between the two channels by a bolt .8.. Against the channels are two sloping members which .may

be I-beanis or angles or bolts asshown at 9,

one on each side of the arm. These sloping members 9 are provided-with rollers shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1st 10 and 11. Between the horizontal channel arm and the downwardl extending arm is a bolt 12 with right and heft hand threads screwing into the brackets 13 at the lower end and 14 at the 'upper end. These brackets are attached to the horizontal arm and the slopin arm by means of bolts as indicted in 1* lg. 1. There is one-of these bolts on each side of the I-beam as indicated in Fig. 2. A spacer indicated by dotted lines at 15 in Fig. 1 and at 16 in Fig. 2 serves to separate the channels and also provides aplace for connecting the cable 17 for raisingor lowering the arm.

The end piece '7 is provided with a slotted hole for the bolt 8 and the position of the end piece 7 between the channels may be fixed as desired and the end piece can be held in place by tightening the nuts on the bolt 8. In this way the position of the -clectrodc may be changed, that is, the distance between the electrode and the I-beam may be increased or' diminished by the length of the slotted hole in the end piece 7. The end p ece 7 is shown in further detail in Figs. 9 and 10 and will be described more fully in connection with these figures. The end piece 7 is fitted with a U-shaped piece over the bolt 18 as a pivot and by loosening the nut on this bolt 18 the position of the (ill electrode around bolt 18 as a center can be adjusted. The vertical bolt 18 and the hori zontal bolt 19 serve to connect the contact clamp 20 to the electrode arm with suitable insulation between to prevent the flow of current.

The contactclamping mechanism comprises the main contact clamp 20 shown in plan in Fig. 2 andthe hinge clamp 21 is fn-lount-cd on-the main clamp 20 by means of a pivot bolt or pin 22. The mechanism for opening and closing the aws of these clamps comprises an eccentric member 23 with a handle'24and also an eye-bolt 25 which tween the main contact clamp and the hinge clamp already described. The contact is shown in elevation in Fig. 1. A lug 31 is attached to the upper end of the contact and is provided with holes into which cable conductors may be brazed for carrying currentfrom the. source otsupply to the contact. These contacts may be water cooled and the two holes indicated at 30 in Fig. 1 represent the inlet and outlet holes for carrying the Water. The construction of these contacts is more fully described inrcfcrence to Figs. 15 and 16.

Theelectrode holder shown in F igs. 1 and 2 is held in place against the vertical I-beam by means of the rollers 6 and 10. These rollers are mounted on suit-able pins or bolts and may be provided with special eccentricbearings if desired. The weight of the electrode on the outer, end of the arm will press the roller 10 against the flat surface of the beam toward the electrode, and the roller 6 will press against the outer surface of the beam which surface is away from the electrode. The other two rollers 5 and 11 are provided for adjustment purposes. These rollers may be mounted eccentrically on the bolts which extend through them as shown in more detail in Fig. 17.

lVhen the electrode holder is lowered until the electrode rests on the charge in an electric furnace, the weight of the part of the electrode holder arm away from the electrode will tend to force the roller 6 away from the back surface of the beam or else to force the front roller 10 away from the front surface of the beam. If this happens, there is a strain on the electrode which tends to break the joints between the electrode sections. To prevent such undesired movementof the rollers and consequent tendency to break nipples, the adjusting ro'lcrs 5 and 11 are provided and the pins on which they are mounted may be rotated until the clearances between the rollers 5 and 11 and the I-bcani are as small as (lesircd for the easy operation of the holder up and down on the I-beam. Other means may he uscd for adjusting thcse rollers, for example, slots may be provided in the side channels or in the downwardly sloping arms and the rollers may be moved toward the I-beam or away from it to the desired extent. \Vhcn these rollers 5 and 11 are practically in contact A AIL \Vhen it is desired to shift the position of-the electrode with respect to the li -beam, this may be done by loosening the nut of the bolt 8 which makes it possible to shift the electrode in or out from the I-beam or by loosening the nut-of the bolt 18, the horizontal position of the electrode about 18 as a pivot may be changed. Orby turning the holder comprising a horizontal arm 32' mounted to operate on rollers which are are .held in place on a suitable side plate 33 so as. to engage the surfaces of the vertical beam 34. The lower roller mounted on the arm 32 is shown at and engages one of the back flanges of the I-beam 34.

. The upper roller 36 engages one of the front flan es of the Lbeam 34 so that the weight of t e electrode held in the clamp at the end ofthe arm presses these rollers 35 and 36 against the back and front flanges of the beam respectively. An adjusting roller (not shown) may be provided to engage the front inner surface'of the Lbeam so as to keep the roller 35 in the desired position and another adjusting roller- 38 may be provided to keep the upper .roller 36 in the desired position. A support bolt member 39 is provided between the upper part ofthe side plate and the bolt 40 at the outer end of the 'arm. This bolt 39 may be adjusted in any well known manner, as for example, by means ofa turn-buckle as described hereafter so'that by shortening this bolt 39 and there fore shortening the distance between the roller 38 and the bolt, 40, the arm 32 may be raised, that is the outer end of it may be raised with respect to the end engaging the I-beam.

With regard to the electrode holder shown in Fig. 3, it will be noted that the outwardly extending arm member 32 of the electrode holder is connected to the side plate 33 by means of two bolts, one of which extends thru the roller 35 and the other of which bolts extends thru the side plate 33 and arm 32 on the electrode side of the I-beam 34. It is possible to support the weight of the electrode holder arm and electrode by ,this means, independently of the use of the supporting-bolt 39 referred to. The adjusting roller on the back side of the I-beam at the lower end of the plate and opposite the roller 35 is not shown; It is mounted in-the plate opposite 33 on the other side of the I-bcam. All of 'the rollers are preferably mounted on eccentric pins described elsewhere in this specification -that is the upper roller ABLE ()9;

36 and lower roller 35 and the corresponding rollers on the back side of the I-beam which are not shown and also the other adjusting rollers like that at 38 and the rollers at the lower end of the plate which engage the innerI-heam flanges-opposite the roller 35,

are-al] preferably. eccentrically mounted.

Altho the roller 38engages the outer surface of the I-beam, that-is the surface nearest to the electrode, nevertheless adjusting rollers to take the place -of ;roller 38 might be mounted in the side plate 33 and other side plate near the top of these plates in such manner as to engagethe inner-back flanges ofthe I-beam which flanges are opposite the inner flanges engaged-by .roller'36 and its corresponding roller-in the other side plate back of the I-beam; The adjustment of the roller 35 and its corresponding-roller in the other side plate back of roller 35 are entirely independent of eachrothr. That is, roller 35 is mountedlon an eecentric pin and can have its. axis moved up or down or in towards the electrode or outaway'from the electrode, independently of the'position of the axis of the roller corresponding to and back of the roller 35. For example, if the axis of the roller 35 be moved farther away from the electrode, this movement of the roller axis will shift the position of the electrode backward from that shown in Fig.

3. Thus by adjustment of the axis of the roller 35 and of the corres onding back lower roller, or either of them independently the position of the end of the electrode arm and therefore the position of the electrode can be moved horizontally in-a direction approximately at right angles. to the arm axis, that is .either back from the position shown in Fig. 3 or in the opposite direction. These rollers mounted on shafts with eccentric axes on opposite sides of the I-beam or.

vertical guide beam constitute means for the horizontal adjustment of the electrode position. Either this means or the means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprising the pivotal movement about the pin 18 may be used, or both 'of them may be used. The adjustment of the position of the roller pins about their eccentric axes prorides, in addition to the above adjustments. means for adjusting the angle of the elcctrode holder-arm 32 with the vertical guide beam, and therefore means for adjusting the angle of the electrode with the vertical. That is, by moving the axis of roller 35 and also the axis of the corresponding roller back off it, nearer to'the electrode without changing the position of the axes of the upper roller 36 and its corresponding roller back of it-with respcctto the trolley, the angle of the arm 32 with the I-beam will be changed; This means for changing the angle of; the electrode with the vertical is independent of the means BEST AVAILABLE COP.

shown in other figures such as in-Fig. 1 and Fig. 11 and either means may be used independently of the other or both may be used.

i Altho the eccentricity of these roller shaft axes may be small, for example yet the movement ofthe arm is effective. The stay bolt 39 may merely serve as a-supporting stay bolt without moving the arm. The

-rollers like in Fig. 3 may be provided with eccentric adjustment similar to that described with regard to Fig. 17 and Fig. 18' and the roller pin may be provided with the same'flattened end as shown in Fig. 17 at 175 and also with the tightening nut to hold thepin in adjusted position. Thus, in order to change the position of the roller axis, the nut is unscrewed to loosen the pin. the pin is then turned by means of a wrench onthe flattened portion like that at 17.5 in

-Fig. 17 and then the nut is tightened to hold supports the contact clamping mechanism "with insulation-,between it and the clamping mechanism. In this Fig. 3 the side channel '42 is cutaway from the line -12 out to the end of the channel so that the construction of the arm end piece will be illu trated. The pin 43.serves as a pivot for the hinge clamp 44. This part of the clamping mechanism 44 is like the part 21 in Fig. 2 and the nut 45 in Fig. 3 corresponds to the nut 27 -in Fig. 2, serving to ad ust the opening between the jaws of the clamp. The electrode contact is indicated at 46 in Fig. 3.

ieferring now to Fig. 4 I have shown here another type of electrode arm construction wing a pipe for the horizontal arm. This pipe is shown; at 51 in Fig. 4. Qutside the pipe 51 but insulated from it is a clamping member 52' The insulation between the pipe 51 and. the clamping member 42 is ?indicated at 53. This insulation :may be mi'ca'or any suitable insulation which will not be deteriorated by heat. Fig. 5 shows the plan view of this same electrode holder. A bolt 54' serves to tighten the clamp 52 over the pipe 51 and outside the insulation 53. By loosening the nut on this bolt 54, the clamp 52 may be moved along the pipe arm 51 so as to adjust the position of the electrode. The clamping member 52 is provided with two flanges indicatedat 55 and 56' which serve to carry the hinge clamp shown at 57 in Fig. 5 and a pivot bolt 58 is provided to permit the hinge clamp 57 to open or close about the pin 58 as a pivot. In Fig. 4 only a portion of the hinge clamp is shown, namely that to the left of the section portions 59 and 60,: corresponding to the broken line 61 in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 4 the inside view of the electrode contact may be seen at 62 and the lug at the top of the contact is indicated at 63.

In Fig. 6,1 have rhowna section of this electrode contact. The surface 62 in Fig. 6 presses against the outside surface of the electrode 64. The lug at the top is shown at 63 and the hole through this lug for. acable is shown at 65. In Fig. 5 the lugs are indirated at 63 for both contacts.

In the plan view in Fig. 5 I have shown the lever handle for the eccentric mechanism for opening and closing the jaws at 66. I have shown this lever bent so that when the clamp is closed this lever may be in .close proximity to the hinge clamp 67.

By this construction the movement which tightens the clamps or jaws and so presses the contacts against-the electrodes is a movement against the trolley which is at the opposite end of the electrode holder arm. And when it is desired to open the jaw the movement is such as to pull the lever 66 away from the vertical beam along which the electrode holder operates. By this construction there is little or no tendency to push the electrodes from\ one side to the other when opening or closing the jaws. In this- Fig. 5, the eye-bolt is shown at 68 and the two adjusting nuts on this bolt are shown at (39 which is inside of the hinge clamp and 70 which is outside the hinge clamp. The threads on the bolt 68 are loose so that the,

nuts operate easily when a different size electrode is to be used. ,These nuts may ,be moved to fit the jaws to the different dimensions required.

Fig. 7 shows the outside of the hinge clamp of the electrode holder in Fig. 5, and and 61 are the flanges through which the pivot bolt 58 passes. The hole 71 at the outer end of the hinge clamp is the hole through which the eye-bolt (38 passes.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the outer ends of the jaws of the electrode holder of Figs. 4

and 5 and shows the location of the eccentric lever in section at-72 where it joins the main eccentric boss. The eyebolt is shown at 73 outside of-the eccentric part of the boss. 74 is the lower part of the main contact clamp and 75 is the upper part of it and through these two parts 74 and 75, the pin 76 extends. This pin extends through the hole 76 in Fig. 5. The parts 67. 68, 69, and 70 are the same parts as indicated by these same numerals in Fig. 5. I

Fig. 9 shows'th'e details .of the construction used for the end piece of the holder arm and the insulation between it and the electrode 25 in permanent relation to each other.

clamp. The parts shown in this figure are the end piece 91 shown partly in section, the U- piece 92 also shown partly in section, I the vertical insulation 93 and the horizontal insulation at the top of the U piece 94, and

the section of the main contact clamp shown at 107. The bolts and insulated washers and bushings are also shown-as referred to hereafter.

1 The arm end piece 91 is the type of end piece used-in the electrode holder shown in Fig. 1. It may be a steel casting and is provided with a slot 96 through which a bolt extends which serves to'clamp the channels of the arm end piece, 91. As already stated,

by loosening the nut of 'the bolt shown in Fig. 1 the end piece may be moved lengthwise of the electrode holder channel arms to the distance permitted by the length of the slot' 96 and thus the position of the electrode may be changed when desired. After changing the relative position of the end piece line A- A of Fig. 9. It will be seen there fore that the U-piece '92 may be moved around the bolt 98 as a pivot. The bolt 98 is insulated from the parts 91 and 92 by means oi the insulating bushing 99 which may be a mica bushing? This bushing extends through the bottom flange of the U- piece 92 and extends also through the insulating washer 100 at the bottom in Fig. 9;.

and this insulating bushing 99 at its upper end extends through the flange 95 of the contact'clamp, and also through the insulating washer 101. Ordinary cut washers are pro- 'vided outside the insulating washers. These cut washers are shown at 102 and 103. In-

side the insulating bushing 99 is a bolt 98 and the nut 104 on this bolt at the lower end serves to hold all of these parts together.

Another insulated bolt 105 shown in Fig.

10 serves to bolt the vertical plates or flanges of the U-piece and of the main contact clamp together, these flanges being shown at 106 and 107 with the insulating plate 93 between them: This bolt 105 is also insulated from boththe flanges 106 and 107 by means of an insulating bushing 108 and insulated .washers 109 and 110'. The insulation used at 93 and 94 and also for the washers like that at 101 may be transite asbestos wood -or mica or other suitable insulating material which will not deteriorate when subjected to heat. In Fig. 9 and also in Fig. 10 the pin for the'hin e clamp may be seen at- 111. The outer en of the main contact clamp is cut oil as shown at 112 and the outer end e f-the hinge clamp is out 01f in BEST AVAILABLE COP.

the drawing at the sections 113 and 114 in Fig. 9.

The advantage of this construction of electrode holder is that two bolts serve to hold the main contact to the arm end and U- piece but insulate these parts from each other in a very efficient and substantial manner. It will be seen that the pressure comes on the end insulating members 93 and 94 rather than on the bushings 99 and 108 so that there is practically no tendency for this from. In Fig. 11- the rollers are mounted on pins at 121, 122, 123 and'124. The downward pressure of the electrode at the outer end of the arm tends to press the rollers on pins 122 and 124 against the back and front faces of the vertical beam 125. Thepipe arm 126 may be mounted on pin 123 so that it is adjustable about this pin 123, that is,

the angle between the axis of the pipe arm 126 and the vertical beam 125 may be changed or held in any desired position, within the limits desired; I have shown a turn-buckle 127 connected with a bolt 128 which is mounted toward the lower part of the plate 129, on a pin 130 and I have also shown a bolt 131 mounted on the pin 132 through the pipe arm. By turning the turnbuckle which operates on the right and lefthand threads of the bolts 128 and 131, the distance between the pins 130 and 132 may be changed and consequently the arm 126 may be held in any desired position in its angle with the vertical.

In Fig. 12, I- have shown a further modification of the clamping member which is mounted at the end of a pipe arm for holding an electrode clamp. The outer end of the pipe arm is shown in Figs. 12 and 13 at 141. The clamp is shown at 142. The bolts 143 and 143 in these figures serve to tighten this clamp about the pipe and insulation indicated at 144 insulates the pipe from the clamp. The upper clamp 142 is provided with a flange 145 and the lower clamp 142 is provided with a flange 146 for'taking a pin 147. Mounted on this pin 147 are two clamps 148 and 149. These clamps may be provided at-the outer ends withan eccentric clamping mechanism as shown in Fig. 5. The outer ends of the clampsin Figs. 12 and 13 are not shown. In Fig. 13 the electrode arm is shown in plan at 149 and the contacts may be seen in section at. 150 and 151. It will-beseeu that the position of the electrode may be. changed horizontally electrode contact.

BEST AVAILABLE COP around the pin 147 as a center the line 147 changed if desired as indicated in Fig. 14.

F ig, 14 shows a vertical I-beam 152 with "a horizontal pipe arm 153 connected vertically by means of suitable rollers on the pins 154 and 155. A downwardly extending arm 156 may be mounted on each side of the horizontal arm 153, using the pin 157- extending through the horizontal arm and also having a roller at its lower end on the pin 158. An adjusting roller 159 -may also be provided on this sloping arm. Then between the pins 154 and 158 I may provide two eye-bolts connected together by means of a turn-buckle 160 which serves to adjust the angle between the horizontal arm 153 and the vertical beam 152..

Figs. 15-and 16 show two views of an The surface 161 makes contact with the outside surface of the elec trode. In Fig. 16, I have shown a water cooled cavity 162 with openings 163 and 164 for the inlet and outflow otwate'r.

' fThese openings may be tapped for standard.

pipe fittings. The lug 165 which extends upwardly from the main part of the contact has oneor more holes in it 166 and into these holes "a'cable may be brazed as indicated in Fig. 15', which is partly in section. The

section here shown illustrates the cable 168 extending into the-hole and the portion 169 represents the brazing or welding of the cable to the main part of the lug. To make the 'oint the cable is inserted in the hole to'a 'stance not quite through it and then the brazing material or the copper is ,filled in making a solid joint between the cable and the copper of the lug. I prefer to make the contacts of copper but I am not limited to the use of this material and may use iron or aluminum or other metals for this purpose.

is that the heat from the furnace does not afi'ect these joints and there is no tendency to'loosen.

Figs. 17 and 18' show the construction and operation of the adjusting roller using an eccentric bolt. In Fig. 17 the vertical section'of the roller which engages the flat siirface of the beam is shown at 171. This roller operates on the surface of the pin shown at 172. The ends of the pin are turned down on the center 1723 which is eccentric of the center 174, the latter being the center of the inside of the roller. At the outer end of the pin, the pin is flattened so that it may be turned by means of a The advantage of this construction of connecting cables and lugs wrench on the surface 175 and the corresponding parallel surface on the opposite side 176. In this way, the pin may be turned about the center 173. It will be seen that turning the pin about the center 173 will serve to move the roller as a whole about this center and to or from the line 176 representing the surface against which the roller operates, and by turning the pin around the center 173, the roller may be moved toward or from the surface represented by the line 176 so as to lessenor increase the clearance between the adjusting roller and that surface. This clearancemay be adjusted as desired. The nut 176 in Fig. 18 shows the nut for tightening the roller pin in adjusted position. This nut tightens the pin and holds it against the trolley side 175 Acorresponding nut is provided on the other end of this type of roller. For the type of roller shown in Fig.- 3'at 35, the roller .pin may beprovided with a flanged portion to keep the roller on the pin taking the place of the opposite elec- I trode holder side 172 shown in Fig. 18.

In further reference to Figs. 12 and 13,

.the clamping member 142 maybe con structed just like the clamping member 142, the former fitting over tie top of the insulating tube 144 andfthe other member 142" fitting underneath the insulation and the two clamping mcmbers may be held together by bolts 143 and 143. These bolts extend through the lugs shown in the plan view in Fig. 13. onebolt at each side of the pipe arm 141. These clamping members 142 and 142 may be ofcast steel. Each of them has a lug like that shown at 145 in Fig. 13 through which the bolt hole 147 extends. The bolt 147 in Fig. 12 serves as a pivot for'tlie two clampingjaws 148 and 149. These two jaws are shown' more clearly in the plan view in Fig. 13. The bolt 147 is provided with a nut 147 'on its lower end. By tight ening the nut 147, it is apparent that the members 149 a'nd 148 which are the clamp' jaws of the electrode holder, may be in heId in place against the flange 145 so that there will be no tendency for the jaws to move about the bolt 147 asa center.

It is pointed out, however, that the nut 147 does not need to be tightly screwed up on the bolt so as to hold the clamping jaws in fixed position. but on the contrary, this nut 147 may be merely screwed up looselyon the bolt and permit the jaws -which hold the electrode to have a certai movement about the bolt 147 as a center. In this way, it is possible to give the electrode holder a certain flexibility so that if the joint between two electrodes is such that it might catch.-

on the roof brick as the electrode is lowered.

this flexibility will permit sutlicient movement of the electrode holder sothat the un- BEST AVAILABLE COP 'might happen when the clamping mecha- -nism is moved to the left in adjusting thehorizontal position of the electrode lengthwise of the arm; It is pointed out that this 'in fixed position by tightening construction of electrode ,holder shown in Figs. 12 and 13 has a number of advantages in that the clamping members may be cast .from the same pattern, .one of them being used for the top clamping piece and the other for the bottom clamping piece; also these clamping members can be easily moved lengthwise of the arm and can then be held the clamping bolts like 143; and then in addition, the horizontal position of the electrode may be moved about the bolt 147 as a center, the center of the electrode following the dotted line pointed to by the radius line 147. The horizontal position of the electrode may be changed and held in fixed position by tightening the nut on the pivot bolt or this nut may beleft loose for flexibility of the electrode clamping members. This electrode holder .is extremely simple and yet embodies many points of advantage. I

In further reference to the eccentric mechanism for closing the electrode clamping jaws shown in Fig. 8, I have shown a plan view of the eccentric member proper in Fi 8 to illustrate the location, ot the bolt hoIe and the surface of theeccentric boss which is eccentric of the centerof the bolt hole. In Fig. 8, the center of the bolt hole is on the center line 72 and .the center of the eccentric boss which engages the eye-bolt is in the center line 72". The circumference of the eccentric boss is indicated at 72* in both Fig. 8 and in Fig. 8. The eccentric lever'is indicated at 72 inboth figures. It will be noted that with the lever handle 72 in the closed position as shown in Fig. 8, the eye-bolt boss 72 is in the. i'artherest position to the right, correspomling to the position of the jaws when they are closed as tightly as possible.

It will be understood that the various features of my invention may becombined in different ways and that I do not limit .myself to any specific combination of these improvements.

In Fig. 15 I have shown a novel construction of combinationelectrode contact and lug and cable forcarrying current to the electrode. These cables may be mounted on the arm and serve to bring the current directly tothe electrode without any bolted joints in the conductor. The same improvement'is also shown in Fig-6 without water cooling however. The great advantage of this means of conducting current to the electrode is that the bolted joints common to other constructions are :done away with and there is no chance for the welded or brazed joint to loosen or for solder to melt and run out and weakenthe joint. Thus this combination of electrode contactwith integral cable lug having a hole for the cable constitutes a special 'feature of my invention,

and in combinationwith this the use of flexible cables which are brazed directly into this cable lug and yet lead to the power supply while at the same tiin providing flexibility as is required by movement of'the electrode holder, this combination is a further advantageous improvement. -T h are shown at 168 in Fig. 15.

I have shown a number of modifications of my invention. F orexample I have shown e flexible cableselectrode holders with arms mounted near the bottom of. the trolley member as in Fig. 3 and other modifications in which the arm is mounted near the top of the trolley mem- I her, as in Fig. 1, but it is understood that I do not limit myself broadly to locating the arm in any given position, altho in specific modifications of the invention I may .do so. But I may mount the arm any where between the top and bottom parts of'the trolley member or side plates without getting away from the novel features of my invention; and Imay mount the outwardly extending arm in any suitable way and either by means of bolts as shown and described with regard to Fig. 3,that is with:

out use otthe stay bolt 39, or I may-mount the outwardly extending arm on a pivot and adjust its angle with the vertical by means of a turn-buckle bolt. to the use of I-beams as the vertical guide beam member for the trolley but may use any kind of vertical guide beam, and I mount the rollers to operate on inside flanges of channel shaped members such as the I- beams of F i s. 2 and 3, or the vertical guide beam may Ee of any general construction as indicated at 125 in F ig. 11 with rollers operating 'on its outer surfaces.

may use either the eccentric means of adjustment of the electrode holder alone or I may combine the other means of adjustment shown with the 'eccentric means, or I may use other means of ad'ustment. as for example the slotted means or adjusting the roller axes.

My present invention provides means for adjusting the angle of the electrode with the vertical, and the position of the electrode horizontally in any direction, and 'does these adjustments in a simple and greatly improved manner.

I do not limit myself And also tical guide member having front and back What I claim is: 1. An electrode crane comprising a verfiat opposed surfaces, an electrode holder for holding an electrode and comprising a horizontal arm connected at one. end with rollers, one of which engages one of said surfaces of the guide member and another of which engages an opposing surface at a different -ele vation, a supporting member connected at its outer end with the horizontal arm of the holder and at its lower end to the lower Wheel 'or wheels of said trolley and meansifor adjusting the distance between the upper and lower wheels.

2. An electrode holder for carrying an electrode comprising upper and lower rollers for engaging opposing surfaces of a vertical guide member, structural members extending horizontally out from the upper rollers for holding the electrode mounted. at the outer end, in an electrode clamping device and structural members connecting the lowerrolle'rs to the outer end of the horizontal arm and means of adjusting the distance between the upper and lower rollers and hold ing said rollers in adjusted position. g 3. In combination, an electrode crane comprising a vertical member and a trolley member slidable along said-vertical member, the trolley having an outwardly extending arm, and one or more rollers engaging a surface of the vertical member and another rollerengaging an opposing surface of the vertical member abovevthe first mentioned roller, means of holding the upper and lower rollers a predetermined distance apart and means for adjusting the distance between the upper rollers and a point on thehorizontal arm out from thevertical beam and holding the members in adjusted position. j,

at. In combination, an electrode crane comprisinga vertical beam and a trolley engaging the surfaces of the vertical beam and having upper and lower rollers, an arm extending outwardly from said trolley for supporting an electrode, adjustable means of connecting the outer end of the arm with a point on the trolley at a different elevation relative to the outwardly extendingv arm and means for holding the parts of the electrode holder in adjusted position.

5. An electrode holder for holding an electrode, comprising upper and lower rollers for engaging o posing surfaces of a vertical guide mem er along Which said rollers may operate, and comprising two structural channel shaped'members forming the horizontal arm of the holder, an arm end member for holding said structural channels apart at the outer end, means of holding the upper and lower rollers in adjusted posiguide mast, and a-spacer member may be adjusted the lower rollers of the holder, whereby the relative position of the horizontal arm ma be adjusted. 6. In an electrode holder having two horizontally extending arms comprising structural channels with one ormore rollers mounted at one end for engaging a Vertical laced between said structural channels at t e outer end to hold them apart and a bolt through the channels and through the end s acing member to hold them together in a justed position, and means of holding the horizontal arm in approximately horizontal position outwardly from the vertical mast. 7. In an electrode holder for supporting an electrode at its outer end, the means of adjusting the distance between the electrode and the other end of the electrode arm, said means comprising a spacing'membe'r held between two horizontally supported structural members, an elongated horizontal hole and a bolt for holding the spacing member and structural members together whereby the relativeposition in or out of the spacing by loosening said bolt. f

8. An electrode holder comprisin a horzontal arm for holding an electrode at its; outer end, said arm comprising two structural channels with their flanges opening toward each other, an arm end member between said channels at the outer end thereof adapted to support the electrodein a suitable clamp insulated from said arm endmember and means for adjusting the position of the arm end member lengthwise of the channels and of holding said armend member in an adjusted position by means of one or more bolts.

9. An electrode holder comprising in combination an outwardly extending arm and arm end memberat the outer end of said arm, a bracket pivoted to said arm end 'around a vertical pin through said bracket and arm end and means for holding an electrode on said bracket and insulated therefrom.

10. In combination, an electrode holder comprising an outwardly extending arm, a

bracket at the outer end of said arm pivoted.

to said arm around avertical pin, a clamping member bolted to said bracket but insulated therefrom and means of adjusting the position of an electrode held in said holder around said vertical pivot. v p

11. An electrode holder comprising a hor izontal pipe arm, an insulating bushing, mounted thereon, a clamping member around said bushing, means for tightening the clamp around the insulated bushing at the desired location lengthwise of the pipearm, a vertical pin extending through upper and lower flanges on said clamping member and two jaws for holding an electrode between them, these jaws likewise being-mounted on'the said vertical in. a

12. An electrode hol er comprising a horizontal arm, a clamping device mounted on said arm but insulated therefrom, means of clam ing this device in the desired position len extension on said clampm member, each of these extensions having a ole for a vertical pin and two electrodeclampingjaws mounted adjustably on said. vertical pm.

13. An electrode" holder comprising a horizontal arm,.an upper clamp and a lower clamp fitting over the end of said arm but insulated therefrom b suitable, insulating material, a bolt on eac side of said clamps for bolting them together about the end of 'said arm, an extension each of said clamps for'taking a vertical pin beyond the end of said arm and approximately inline with the axis of said arm, said vertical pincarrying two adjustable jaws for holding anelectrode between them.

14. 'An'electrodc holder comprisiiig an up v per. and a lower clam means for bolting these together about t e end of a suitable arm, a vertical pin extending through sanl clamps and adapted to carry two ad ustable jaws mounted'onsaid pin as a center, and means for clamp1ng 'anelectrode between.

said jaws. i

-- 15. An electrode holder comprising a horizontal outwardly extending arm mounted to operate on a vertical beam and to carry an electrode holding-mechanism at its outer end, a slo ingKarm mounted at its outer end on a ,beam, and means for adjustin the an pin t ough said horizontal arm and having rollers at its other end to engage said vertipal ar opening between the 'horlzonta arm an the sloping arm, said means comprising a turnbuckle moimted between said arms.

16. In an electrode holder comprising a vertical beam and a trolley memberengaging the surfaces of said beam by means of rollers, an adjusting roller mounted eccentrically on a pin whereby the clearance between the roller and a surface of the vertical beam may be adjusted by turning-the pin about its axis.

17. An electrode holder com rising a vertical beam having front and ack fiat surfaces, a trolley member having rollers, one of which enga es one surface and another of which at'a ifi'erent elevation engages an opposing surface when the trolley member is raised or lowered along said vertical beam,

\ two adjusting rollers, one for each of the above mentioned rollers, the adjusting rollers serving to hold the main rollers a ainst the said surfaces of the beam within t e desired-limits ofclearance.

18. An electrode holder comprising a vertical beam, a horizontally extending arm, a

wise of said arm, an upper and lower;

BEST Aviwjgjzg COP trolley comprising two side plate members, two. upper rollers, one engaging a back -surface and the other en aging an oposing surface of the vertical. am, and two lower rollers, one engaging a front. surface and the other engaging an opposing surface of said beam and means of adjusting the clearance between one upper roller and one. lower rolleri and correspondinv surfaces of the beam.

19. An electrode mechanism comprising a clamping member mounted at the outer end of an arm, insulation between-said clamping member and said arm, a vertical pivot mounted on said clamping member beyond the end of said arm'for carr ing an electrode clamping device and means or insulating the outer parts of the clamping device-from the main electrode holder arm. v

20. In combination in .an electrode holder an outwardly extending electrode holder arm and an adjustable arm end member, means for bolting said arinend'member in fixed 'po-' means or mounting said pins eccentric-ally of the roller axis whereby the roller may be moved about the eccentric axis of the pin and means for holding the pin in adjusted position.

23. An electric furnace electrode holder com rising a trolley member for operating vertically along a vertical guide 'eam, a roller mounted on said-trolley member for engaging the surface of said guide beam, a shaft for said roller. to rotate on, and means for mounting saidshaft on an axis eccentric of the roller axis and for holding said shaft in adjusted position with respect to said ec-' centric axis. 24. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 comprising upper. and lower rollers engaging a-vertical guide beam and mounted eccentrically as in claim 23.

25. electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 with eccentric means for adjusting the rollers and having rollers on opposite sides of the guide beam.

26. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 in which the roller shaft has a stud extension on theend of the roller shaft for mounting the roller eccentricallyof the roller axis and a nut on said stud for holdmg the shaft in fixed: eccentric position about the stud axis.

27. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 in which the shaft has a threaded extension or stud eccentric the axis of the shaft and a flattened end on said stud so that it may be turned to move the roller shaft about the stud axis.

28. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 in which the trolley member comprises a plate or side member on both sides'of the vertical guide beam, said roller shaft having threaded stud extensions integral with the shaft, one on eachend thereof and both mounted on the same axis which axis is eccentric of the roller shaft axis.

29. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 in which the roller shaft is mounted on a stud extension on one end of said shaft.. 7

30. An electric furnace electrode holder as in claim 23 in which the rollers are adapted for mounting said shafts inthe trolley memher 'eccentrically of the shaft axes and for holding the shafts in "adj usted position about said eccentric axes, an arm attached to said trolley member extending outwardly therefromfor holding an electrode, the posit on and. axis of which electrode may be moved :2 by means of said ro ller shaft adjustments.

32. An electric furnace electrode holder comprising a trolley member having rollers engaging the surface of a vert-ical guide beam, eccentric means for adjusting the position of the roller axis of said rollers, the

rollers being so located on the trolley memher with respect to the vertical guide beam as to permit adjustment of the angle of the electrode with the guide beam.

33. An electrode holder for an electric furnace as in claim 32 except that the cocentric means constitutes means for adjustment of the horizontal position of the electrode with respect to a normal axis of the arm.

34. An electrode holder as in claim 32 in which the vertical guide beam comprises a channel shaped member in which a roller operates.

35. An electric furnace electrode holder comprising a trolle member for movement along a vertical gulde beam, and means for adjusting the axis of the electrode held by said electrode holder with the vertical.

36. An electrode holder for an electric furnace, said holder comprising in combination a vertically movable'member operating on rollers along a vertical guide member, and means for adjusting the position of the roller axes in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the electrode holder arm held in connec-. tion with said vertically movable member.

37. An electrode holder for an electric furnace said holder comprising a trolley member carrying an arm for supporting an electrode, rollers mounted on said trolley member to engage a vertical guide member, and slots for the shafts of said rollers whereby adjustment of the roller axis may be made with respect to the trolley member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of February, A. I). 1923.

ALBERT E. GREENE 

